Early December the Return Target for Rajon Rondo

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge has made himself very clear: The Boston Celtics will not rush the return of point guard Rajon Rondo.

In an interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Monday morning Ainge stated that early December is currently the target date for the All-Star point guard.

Rondo underwent surgery to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee back in February, and Ainge said he would be “shocked” if he was ready for the season opener.

“I don't think we would ever succumb to the pressure of bringing back a player from an ACL too soon," Ainge said. "We've got to do what's right for him. He's young, and he's our best player. We can't afford to make any mistakes in judgment on when to bring him back."

Rondo averaged 13.7 points and 11.1 assists per-game in 38 games last season before being sidelined with the injury. He was also averaging a career-high 5.6 rebounds at the time of his injury.

Newly hired Celtics head coach Brad Stevens also spoke out about Rondo, saying that he’s told the seventh-year veteran the decision was his.

“I think that's going to be on his doctors, his training staff, him, making the call on when he's ready. I've told him from Day 1, come back when you're ready. I think it's really important that he feels good when he's back and ready to play."

The Celtics currently have only one primary ball handler on the roster - undrafted rookie Phil Pressey out of Missouri. Avery Bradley figures to start at point guard, with Jordan Crawford doing some ball-handling himself off of the bench.